Eide Bailly Elects New MP, CEO

IMGCAP(1)] Dave Stende steps in as Eide Bailly LLP’s new managing partner and CEO-elect.

Stende succeeds Jerry Topp who is getting ready to retire after 35 years at Eide Bailly.

“I am both humbled and honored to be chosen by our partner group to lead Eide Bailly,” Stende said in a statement. “Jerry has provided outstanding leadership during the past 10 years, as we have seen the firm triple in size. I plan to build on what he has done.” Stende will start to fulfill his duties as managing partner and CEO on May 1, 2013.

Topp intends to stay on board to work on M&A deals and special projects.

[IMGCAP(2)] When Topp stepped in as managing partner and CEO in 2003, the firm had $54 million in net fees, nine offices, 75 partners and 577 staff members. The firm has since grown to $158 million, 21 offices, 165 partners and 1,016 staff members. “The past 10 years have been an exciting ride,” Topp said in a statement. “Eide Bailly is a firm of the future and Dave has the knowledge and experience to make this a seamless transition. He has served as Eide Bailly’s COO for the past seven years and, during this time, we have worked as a team to build our firm and achieve our growth strategies,” he said.

Stende has 31 years’ experience in public accounting, providing client services in the areas of auditing and consulting for a variety of industries. He was appointed chief operating officer in 2006, following one year as partner-in-charge of the Firm's Fargo, N.D., office.

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